KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's volleyball team hosted three of the top programs in the nation last week, earning one win and taking a pair of losses in the process.
The UBC Thunderbirds, Trinity Western Spartans and Calgary Dinos were all in town for exhibition games, with TRU taking down the Thunderbirds before falling to the Spartans and Dinos.
Returning to the WolfPack after suiting up for Team Australia at the Volleyball Nation's League this past Summer,
Sam Flowerday led the way offensively for the 'Pack – racking up 28 kills in the two matches that he played in.
MATCH 1:
TRU 3, UBC 0
(25-15, 25-9, 25-20)
The WolfPack got things off to a great start, defeating the T-Birds in straight sets. Winning by scores of 25-15, 25-9 and 25-20 TRU was led by Flowerday,
Sam Elgert,
Rylan Ibbetson and
Thundersky Walkingbear.
Flowerday recorded three aces and ten kills, Walkingbear added four aces and eight kills. Defensively Elgert led a great team effort with 11 digs while Ibbeston added five.
"We had the start we needed against a UBC team that travelled and was missing some key starters," said WolfPack head coach
Pat Hennelly. "It was a great start to our home tournament."
MATCH 2:
TWU 3, TRU 1
(25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18)
TRU took a set off the perennial powerhouse Spartans, but were unable to complete the upset.
In another strong match for Flowerday, the Australian put together a monster night with 22 points while hitting .420 per cent in the game.
Ibbetson added nine kills and middle
Corbin Ockerman had six kills and a pair of blocks.
"We had three strong sets leading into a slow start to the fourth," said Hennelly. "Overall, our level of play has been excellent and much improved from last weekend."
MATCH 3:
CGY 3, TRU 0
(25-23, 22-19, 25-21)
The WolfPack couldn't get the result they were after in their final game of the tournament, falling in three straight sets.
Riley Brinnen led the way with eight kills and no errors, while
Matthew Hamilton added a further nine. First year
Owen Waterhouse entered the match in the third set and provided an lift to the squad with three kills on four attempts while
Ethan Olfert recorded 21 assists in his lone start of the weekend.
"Last game of the tournament was a bit of a let down," said Hennelly. "We started strong but played flat for the end of the first and second set. Despite that it was an excellent weekend for our program with great efforts from multiple players."
